Chapter 11 - SOPHIE REMEMBERS
Sophie was discharged two days later.
At home, she stayed close to me.
She did not want to sleep alone.
She jumped whenever a phone rang.
And she refused to wear the blue jacket.
I put it in an evidence bag after Detective Morales asked us to preserve it.
On the third evening, Sophie walked into the kitchen while I was making soup.
“Mommy?”
“Yes?”
“Uncle Preston asked me something before the phone.”
I turned off the stove.
“What did he ask?”
She climbed onto a chair.
“He asked if I remembered Grandma’s rules.”
“What rules?”
“That family protects family.”
My stomach tightened.
“When did he say that?”
“Before dinner.”
“What else?”
Sophie thought carefully.
“He said you were making Grandpa sad.”
I crouched beside her.
“Did he tell you why?”
“He said you were trying to take Grandpa’s company away.”
I felt anger rising again.
But I kept my face calm.
“What did you say?”
“I said you wouldn’t do that.”
She looked worried.
“Was that okay?”
“Yes.”
“He got mad.”
“How could you tell?”
“He stopped smiling.”
Children notice more than adults realize.
Sophie continued.
“He asked if I loved Grandma and Grandpa.”
My heart hurt.
“I said yes.”
“Then what?”
“He said sometimes kids can help fix grown-up problems.”
I swallowed.
“And then?”
“He told me to keep my jacket near me.”
There it was.
More proof that the phone planting was planned.
But Sophie had one more memory.
“He also said if anything happened later, I should say I was sorry.”
I closed my eyes.
Preston had not simply planned the accusation.
He had prepared Sophie to accept blame.
He had tried to manipulate an eight-year-old into confessing to something she had never done.
That night, after Sophie fell asleep, I called Detective Morales.
She listened without interrupting.
When I finished, she said something I had not allowed myself to think about.
“This may have been intended to pressure you into silence.”
“I know.”
“If so, there could be charges beyond the physical incident.”
I looked through the doorway toward Sophie’s bedroom.
“I don’t care what happens to him.”
Morales was quiet.
Then I corrected myself.
“That’s not true.”
May you like
I tightened my grip on the phone.
“I care that he never gets close enough to do something like this again.”
